The NBA Finals date back to 1947 (when they were known as the Basketball Association of America Finals) and the very 1st NCAA tourney was held in 1939. Olympic basketball competition is even older: it debuted as a demonstration event in 1904 and the men’s version became a medal sport in 1936, with the women finally getting their chance to go for the gold in 1976. The United States has dominated Olympic basketball competition from the start: the men have won 15 gold medals in the 18 tournaments they have participated in during the past 84 years, while the women have won 8 gold medals in the 10 tournaments in which they have competed during the past 44 years. Those of you who were looking forward to the 2020 Olympics opening ceremonies in Tokyo on July 24, 2020 will have to wait an extra 364 days, as the coronavirus caused a postponement until July 23, 2021. Due to the absence of college basketball since mid-March, HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel decided to fill the void by trying to interview as many prior Olympic players/coaches as possible so that you have something to read this summer while not watching the Summer Games. We continue our coverage by chatting with Mel Counts about winning back-to-back NBA titles in 1965/1966 and winning a gold medal in 1964.
You played for Coach Slats Gill and with Terry Baker at Oregon State: what made Gill a Hall of Fame coach, and what was it like having a teammate who won a Heisman Trophy? Slats was not only a great teacher of the game but also a great teacher of life. He had high expectations and turned boys into responsible men. We started off poorly in 1963 while Terry was still playing football but after he joined us we ended up making the Final 4! He came here on a basketball scholarship, the football coach talked him into trying out for the football team, and the rest is history.
In the 1962 NCAA tourney you had 24 PTS/17 REB in a loss to UCLA: what was it like to face John Wooden in March (that year he began a run of 12 Final 4s in a 16-year stretch)? It was no different than facing any other coach. He is 1 of the all-time greats but we just went out and played hard and tried to win.
You were a 2-time All-American: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was a combination of many things. Nobody becomes successful by themselves and I was fortunate to have some great mentors/role models/coaches. Hard work accomplishes a lot and I am also a man of faith.
You won a gold medal with team USA at the 1964 Olympics (at 7’ you were the tallest US Olympian ever until 7’2” Tommy Burleson broke your record in 1972): what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? It was a big deal back then and still is today. Of all the awards I have ever received this 1 is the most valuable. We did not have any single star: I think that our MVP was Coach Hank Iba. He led the toughest training camp I have ever attended in my life so by the time we got to Tokyo I was mentally/physically prepared. I was blessed to be on that team and win a gold medal. I think that it is a good idea to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to next year. It is a great country with gracious/caring people so I am sure that it will be a wonderful event.
In the summer of 1964 you were drafted 7th overall by Boston (1 spot ahead of Willis Reed): how did you feel about joining the defending champs and their Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach? I was the last pick of the 1st round and did not know what to expect. I grew up in a small town but the players were very friendly/helpful: John Havlicek/Bill Russell/etc. I never thought that I would start my career on 2 championship teams but it was wonderful.
As a rookie in Game 7 of the 1965 Eastern Division Finals you had a front-row seat for Havlicek’s famous steal of an inbounds pass by Hal Greer to clinch a 1-PT win over Philadelphia: what do you remember about 1 of the most famous plays in NBA history? Before the game Russell/Auerbach went out to look at the guidewires by the backboard and they decided to leave them as is. When Havlicek stole the ball it was a mob: the fans tore his jersey off! We had a reunion a few years ago, which was also wonderful.
You won NBA titles during each of your 1st 2 years (1965/1966) as a backup to Russell: what made Russell such a great player, and what did it mean to you to win a pair of titles? If I would pick 1 player to start a team with today it would still be Russell. He was super-smart and got the most out of what he had. His idea was to make everyone else successful so that his team would win. He understood the game and helped us win those 2 championships. It means even more now then it did back then. I started out making $12,000/year and we made around $3500 for winning a title. Back then we played more for the love of the game: now it is a little more about the astronomical money they make. I am not complaining though: I have great memories.
After being traded to the Lakers in 1966 you made it to the NBA Finals 3 straight years from 1968-1970 and lost 3 years in a row:
What are your memories of the 1969 Finals (Sam Jones made the game-winning buzzer-beater while jumping off the wrong foot in Game 4, Coach Butch van Breda Kolff left you in for the end of Game 7 after refusing to put Wilt Chamberlain back in even though Wilt said his knee felt good enough to play in a 2-PT home loss to Boston, and Jerry West became the only player to even win Finals MVP while playing for the losing team)? We had a great opportunity to beat the Celtics. There is nothing like winning: 2nd place is not enough but they were the better team that night.
What are your memories of the 1970 Finals (West made a 60-footer at the end of regulation in a 3-PT OT loss to the Knicks in Game 3, then Willis Reed came running out of the locker room before Game 7 while Walt Frazier had 36 PTS/19 AST as New York won the title)? I give New York all the credit in the world: they were a fine-tuned machine with guys like Willis/Phil Jackson. They were 1 of the more intelligent teams that ever played the game.
After retiring you became a real estate agent in Oregon: how did you get into the business, and how do you like it? I had a friend ask me if I had ever thought about working in real estate. We took the exams, passed them, and I have been doing it since 1978. You are an independent contractor and pay all of your own fees. Much like basketball, you need some passion for what you do and have to perform to get paid. It is like “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” but it has been good to me and I have made some good friends.
Your sons Brent/Brian/Chris all played college basketball and your nephew Chael Sonnen is considered to be 1 of the greatest all-time mixed martial artists to have never won a UFC title: who is the best athlete in the family? I would say my oldest son Brent. We made a mistake by not waiting a year to put him in school. He would have really helped Oregon State during his final 2 years: his senior year at Stockton he played pretty well against a UNLV team that ended up winning the title. All of my boys were good athletes, and now I get to watch my grandkids play!